Curry Barker’s Obsession is a huge hit with critics and fans alike. Audiences have been raving about a particularly creepy scene where Nikki (Inde Navarrette) ominously stares at a sleeping Bear (Michael Johnston). Her face seems distorted and demonic, which many chalk up to subtle but effective CGI.
The film’s key makeup artist, Kate Oja, recently shared behind-the-scenes images showing that the look was from makeup inspired by a TikTok trend.
The uncanny valley is the name given to the negative emotional response towards robots that seem almost human. When humanoid things don’t appear human enough, but are very close, it causes unease in most people. In 2023, Emilia Blarth shared her Halloween makeup, where she embraced the uncanny valley.
Her video went viral, giving rise to the #uncannyvalleymakeup trend that has since carved out its own niche on the platform. A few hallmarks of the style are making your mouth and pupils look bigger, while softening other features. This causes faces to look distorted and mannequin-like, appearing overall lifeless. Bucking the more traditional over-the-top horror makeup for something subtly terrifying.
This technique is also a budget-friendly way for filmmakers like Barker to get effects like this without employing more expensive technology. While CGI certainly has its place in filmmaking, some things just need the human touch to look perfectly…inhuman.
Obsession is currently playing in theaters nationwide. You can check out Oja’s photos below.
